Game apparatus



C. R. STEWART.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 1919,

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

and neat 1n ap earance.

' used by iTEn STATS? 'onAnENcn n. STEWART, or SPOKANE, wAsnrneToiv.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A -c.1920.

Application filed September 27, 1919. Serial ltd 326,719.

. cation. I

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and moreparticularly to toy catapults. I

An important object of this inventlon is to provide a'toy of the class described having novel means forthrowing a small projectile or missile in the direction of a target, said toy being provided with novel means for supporting the missile whereby the missile may be readily thrown out from the toy. l

A further object of this invention is'to provide a toy catapult having'novel means for abruptly stopping the projectile throw- 7 ing arm uponreaching thelimit of-itseffeotive movement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy of the class describedgwhich is simple, of highly simplified construction A further 0 ject of this invention is'to, provide a toy catapult which may be safely ,both old and youngas a source of pleasure. v

A further object is to provide atoycatapultwherein the projectllethrowingmema a a ranged on th'elouter'portionof theprojectilethrowingjarm '1 adjacent the bight 10 a of the same 'an diis providedwith attaching her is adapted to be entirely controlled by the hand whereby the use of all triggers and catches may be dispensed with. i 1 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the'oourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming.

a part of thislapplication and in whichlike numerals are employed. to des gnate like parts throughout the same: a a

Figure 1 is a pers .ective of the device; I Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through'a slightlyfvmodified forin of o the invention; a

i Fig. 3li sfa perspective; ofa modifiedform a V V I I I {forwardlyextendingattaching flanges '24:

may be made a part ofthe abutment 20. To further brace the stop element orfbuffer, a pair of upwardly inclined rods i25 are'an Jchored toitheerear portion of theibase as indicated at 26 and are" attached to the upper portion ofthe' abutment-21 as indicated 10f projectile throwingfarm embodied the 10f; aj -t a rget em bodied in the. invention. I i In h dra in 'rhi r for fissure of illustration is shown several preferred embodiments of. the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates a base which maybe made of a light wood or other suitable'material. An elongated handle6 extends rearwardly from the base 5 and isof a lesser widththan the base to enable the handle to bereadily'gripped. v

In the form of "the invention illustrated in triangulariforination to form converg- 111g arms 8, a bearing portion 9and a bight projectile throwing member through staples 11 secured to the base and in Fig. 1 the projectile throwing member generally designated by the numeral 7 is formed from a single length of wire bent 7O portion 10. The, bearing portion 9 of the is 1 passed pivotally supporting the projectile sup- 5 porting,.-member.- A coil spring 12 surrounds thehearlng portion 9 of the projectile throwing member and has one terminal portion 13, engaging the base and its other 1 terminal portion 14; engaging the rear-side of one of thecon'verging arms 8 for urging the projectile member '7 forwardly or to an elevated position. The terminalfportion 14 or the coil spring has its arm engaging portion curved as indicated at 15 for preventing. accidental disengagement of the throwing member. a i, a u

Intheform of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 a projectile supporting'member 16 preferably formedfof sheetjmetal is arterminal portion 14; f with the projectile flanges 17 which are curved about .the'arms 8 in gripping engagement witli the same.

The central portion of the projectile supporting member 16 is provided'with 'a 'concave recess 1S adaptedfor thereception of I a projectileor missilelt) which'inthis case is in the form of a small ball. L I

One arm, of stop element or buffer 2Olis illustrated in Fig." 1; and includes an upright base by attaching flanges 23. If desired the same trom'loosening."

at 27. The bracing rods may be of round wire or flat strips of metal and are'connected to the abutment 21 immediately on the outer sides of the arms 8 and thereforeserve'to rigidly support the abutment and prevent In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '2 the abutment 21and associated elements have been dispensed with and a pair retain thearms 28 inclined upwardly as illustrated. p

A further modification of the invention ronsists in providing a check cord 3lwhich is anchored to the baseby an attachingeye 32 arranged ad acent to the blght port on of? the projectile throwing arm. The cord 31 may, if desired, be secured toa'the bight portlon 10 ot the pro ect 1le throwing arm or to a rearwardly disposedrounded extens on 33 l formed integral with the projectile supporting member 16. Vhen the cord" 31 is it attached to the rearwardly disposed extension 33 the same is passed through anattaching openingfi l in the extension.

"A modified form of"projectilethrowing arm is illustrated in Fig.3 and isgenerally designated by the numeral As in the formjofthe projectile throwing arm illustr'ated'in Fig. l 'a single lengthfof wire is bent n tr angular tormatlon to provide conaprojectile seat. Tlieljbightpoi'tion"39 of;

"verging arms 36a'nd a bearing portion Thearms 36ers bent outwardly nfsem Circular formation points spaced from their rear, ends as ntimated atBS lZO'PITOV lClQ the projectile throwing member illustrated in Fig BYmay, if desired, be connected to l a check cord for limiting the forward movea ment offtheprojectilethrowing member."

' V l A target generally designated by the nunieral {l0'isfadaptedtoflbe arranged forwardlyjot' the catapultand includes anjup' ":right ffront'j ll, a vbase 14 2 and an inclined f brace 43. A plurality ofopfeningsl/l l are arrangedin superposed spaced, relation in the rmmwsu lland are adapted'to receive illustrated the pockets A5 are 'of various H I is lclaimedasfnewis":1 suitable projectile receiving pockets 45. p I

S upporting devices el6'of a "sui'tablenature Rare secured tothe upper wallsot the openings 44; andengage the pockets 45 for securf rotatablyfconnect saidtransverse'arm to said v ing thesame within' the openings ""As i i "sizes and maybe of; any color, shape or y W designfj'lhe pockets asama also be ar "ranged on the face "of the target an'd about the openings .As illustrated 4, the pockets 4:5 may be displacedby'a plurality'of disks 4'? arranged within. the openings a l and pivotally suspended from hangers as secured to thetop walls of the open ings. The disks 47 which may be of any shape or design are adapted to be swung upon the plvots 4:8 upon being engaged by the missile from the catapult.

In the practice'ot the invention the catapult is arranged a selected distance torwardly of the target. and the projectile throwing army is drawn rearwardly-in contact with thebase and against the tension of the CO1]. spring. A missile or progectlle is now arranged within the seat and upon releasing .the progectile throwmg member the missile is shot in-the direction of the target.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig." l, the projectile throwing member is abruptly stopped in its forwardmovement by the abutment "In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the projectile throwing member is} abruptly stopped-in its forward movement either by the stop arms 28 or the:fiexibleelements 3i.

-When it isdesired to reset the catapult, it "is r'nerely necessary to manually draw the projectile throwing member rearwardly to a horizontal position and place the projectile or missile within its seat. Upon re-' leasing the projectile throwing member the fmissile thrown forward with considerable 'veloclty" and as the pro ectile throwing member is abruptly stoppedin its forward movement further impetus is given the missile.

" With" rete'renc'eto the fore o ng, it will be noted that "I have providedan extremely simple toy catapult which is of durable construction' [and which may be used without the'possibility of injuring the hands as "a result of the action ofthe'springof-thepro-i jectile [throwing member As is-Fobvious tromflFig'. l the projectile throwingimember is controlled entirely'byJhandwithoutthe aid oftriggers;catches, etc., (as is 'usualjin devices on? this character; g i p It is to be nnderstood that the forms of are to be taken asja preferred embodiment t n aving thus' described t 1. toy catapult including a'jbaseQap l the inventionfherewith"shown and described I of the same i and that"isuchminorl changes be inade 'as will? remain within the spirit of the invention and the scopeofwhat isclaiiriedf he invention, what base, a'sp'ring rorteasiening h Saidi 2. A toy catapult including a base,-a projectile throwing member having a transverse bearing arm and a pair of arms, means to rotatably connect saidtransversearm to said base, a coil spring surrounding said transverse arm and tensioning the said projectile throwing member, a projectile supporting flanges secured about the rear end portions of said arms, said pro ectile supporting plate being provided with centrally arranged projectile receiving recess, and a bufi'er secured to said base and adapted to be engaged by said converging arms.

3. A 'toy catapult including a flat base having a rearwardly extending elongated handle, a projectile supporting member mounted on said base and provided'with converging arms and a transversely extending bearing arm, means to rotatably connect said bearing arm to said flat base,.a spring having engagementwith one of said con verging arms for urging each of the converging arms forwardly, a projectile supporting plate mounted on the rear end portions of said converging arms, and a bufier formed from a flat plate having its end portions extended rearvvardly and downwardly and secured to said base.

4. A toy catapult including a flat base having a rearwardly extending elongated handle, a triangular projectile supporting member mounted on said base and provided with converging arms and a transversely extending bearing arm, means to rotatably con nect said bearing arm to said flat base, a coil spring surrounding said bearing arm and plate havlng its end portions formed with having engagement with one of said con verging arms for urging each of the convering armsforwardly, a pro ectile supporting plate mounted on the rear end portions of said converging arms, a buffer formed from a fiat plate having its end portions ex- "tended rearwardlyand downwardly and secured to said base, andforwardly extending bracing. arms secured to base and to said buffer outwardly of said converging arms.

5. A; toy catapult comprlsmg a base, a pro.-

jectile supporting member pivotally mounted,

upon said base, spring means for urging said pro ectile supportmg member forwardly, a buffer formed from a flat plate having its "end portions extended rearwardly and downwardly and secured to said base, and bracr ing arms secured to the intermediate portion of said base and secured to said bufifer outwardly of said projectile supporting member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. CLAREN UE R. STEWART. [1 s.] 

